Paul Scheiderer believes the number of opportunities in Jackson County for youth to get involved with theater sets it apart from other communities.
As director of music for Immanuel Lutheran School in Seymour, he’s proud to be able to add to that list.
For this year’s annual junior high musical, Scheiderer chose a production all of his young students know well and one he thinks people will want to come see.
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Having put on “Annie,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Peter Pan” in the past, Scheiderer said he wanted a show that was a little more contemporary, lighthearted and fun.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, the school’s sixth through eighth grade performing arts group will “Let It Go” in their stage production of “Frozen Jr.”
Tickets are $3 for students in kindergarten through 12th grade and $5 for adults.
The show is an adaptation of the Broadway musical based on the popular 2013 Disney animated film. It tells the fairy-tale story of sisters and princesses Elsa and Anna.
When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. They are joined on their adventure by the lovable Olaf the Snowman, the ice harvester Kristoff and his best friend Sven the reindeer.
Those familiar with Disney’s “Frozen” will recognize several of the songs being performed, including “Let It Go,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “For the First Time in Forever.”
Playing the leads are Delaney Williams as young Anna, Kelly Beavers as young Elsa, Abigail Knollman as middle Anna, Alexis Stuckwisch as middle Elsa, Gabriella Parisi as grown Anna and Carmyn Wilson as grown Elsa. Drew Kerkhof plays Kristoff, Carson Bowling plays Sven, Drew Hubbard plays Olaf and Caleb Knollman plays Hans.
The cast has been rehearsing since the middle of January after having auditions. Scheiderer said the production has received support from Jackson County Community Theater in Brownstown. That organization donated sets for the school to use.
Hubbard said she enjoys playing Olaf because he’s such a funny character.
“I love Olaf’s personality, and he is really fun,” she said.
This isn’t Hubbard’s first theater experience at Immanuel as she played Annie in last year’s musical.
“It’s an opportunity to express my abilities to the people of my community,” she said. “I like being able to make the performance my own.”
She encourages people of all ages to come to the show.
“You get to see and experience the talents of local students,” she said.
Kerkhof said he has loved playing a role from a Disney film. He too, is no stranger to the stage as he has been in other plays at the Jackson County Community Theater.
“I like performing because it takes work and practice,” he said.
He hopes to see lots of people in the audience Thursday night.
“People should come see it because it is a newer musical, and it will help the arts at our school and in our community,” he said.
Taking on the iconic role of Elsa the ice queen, Wilson said she wanted to be in “Frozen Jr.” because of the songs.
“I wanted to sing ‘Let It Go,’ and I like performing because I can become the character,” she said.
She also likes the part about getting to be a queen with magical powers, she added.
“We put a lot of work into this production,” she said.
Parisi said being in theater allows her to experience different things that she wouldn’t be able to experience in real life.
Playing the role of Anna, she gets to be a bubbly young girl but is still able to express other feelings and emotions, she said.
People will like the performance, she said, because it’s entertaining and fun and is a spin on a classic story.
As an eighth-grader, this is Parisi’s last year at Immanuel, and she wanted to make it memorable by taking on a major role in the musical.
“I really wanted to make my last year here awesome and really end it with a bang,” she said.
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What: Immanuel Lutheran School’s production of "Frozen Jr."
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Immanuel Lutheran School, 520 S. Chestnut St., Seymour
Cost: $3 for students in kindergarten through 12th grade and $5 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at the door the night of the show or in advance at the school.
Cast: Delaney Williams, Kelly Beavers, Benjamin Neawedde, Vivienne Siefker, Triniti Wilde, Ava Blomenberg, Abigail Knollman, Alexis Stuckwisch, Lance Hubbard, Greer Henry, Madison Schrader, Taylor Stuckwisch, Gabriella Parisi, Carmyn Wilson, Drew Kerkhof, Carson Bowling, Caleb Knollman, Abigail Followell, Jonathan Neawedde, Drew Hubbard and Breanna Lawrence
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